Copeland shines for Aust in tour game

AAP: Trent Copeland may well have bowled himself into a Test debut next week after a five-wicket haul on the opening day of Australia’s three-day tour match in Sri Lanka.

Copeland took 5-47, including the scalps of established Sri Lankan Test players such as Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera, as Australia dismissed the Sri Lanka Board XI for 258 at P Sara Oval on Thursday. By stumps Australia were 0-26 with Phillip Hughes (24no) and Usman Khawaja (2no) unbeaten at the close.

Copeland took five of the first six wickets to fall in a fantastic display of controlled pace bowling that could well see him called up for his first Test appearance when Australia’s three-match series in the island nation begins in Galle next Wednesday.

But the 25-year-old right-armer refused to think that far ahead.

“No, I’m not going to. I’ll take it as it comes,” Copeland told reporters.